§ Mr. Gallacherasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware 3508W that prisoners at Birlinnie prison who have been ordered medicine have it given them out of the same spoon, which is wiped on a cloth by the orderly between the doses; and will he take steps to end this practice?
§ Mr. ColvilleI am informed that when a prisoner is given medicine while in his cell his own spoon is used. If medicine is given to a prisoner in the surgery or workshed the spoon used is washed and dried with a towel on each occasion. Prisoners with infectious diseases are all isolated and their own spoon used and then sterilised.